The National tribune., 1887-12-08
OUR RURAL TOPICS,
Some Practical Suggestions for Our
Agricultural Readers
"AenIcuLruRAI moss rRors.n

AGRICULTURAL HoSS TRoTs"
We fear that there are some who entertain
too strong prejudice against the indulgence
of horse trotting at fairs. While we arc ready
TO admit that there are sometimes undesirable
features connected with the same, we also as
sert that there are two sides TO the case; and
with one side continually brought to the atten-
ton of the public it seems TO be very much
like the case being tried by 8 country justice,
who, on hearing the side of the plaintiff de-
clsred that "a he had got his case" With the
constant objections 20 horse trotting at fairs
people have come to look upon il as a mOnstrous
evil, and this is especially the case with those
farmers who arc exhibitors in other classes,
such as fruits, vegetables, livestock etc. IL Is
said that horse trotting keeps the better class
of the community away, and that the money
paid for horses is out of proportion to that paid
for other animals and farm products. Now,
how is il with regard TO the real attractions of
the fairp The pens are filed with cattle, sheep,
swine and poultry; the buildings with such
specimens Of fruits, grains, vegetables, articles
of antiquity, art and domestic manufactures.
Viewing all these is n surging and ever-moving
crowd of humanity, composed of all grades and
classes of society, men of all trades and pro-
fessions Let it be announced that the races
are to commence, and the attention of nearly
the entire crowd is turned Immediately to the
race and its result We know whereof we
speak. Now, regarding the horses: In many
cases but little money is actually drawn from
the society. for the reason that for every horse
that enters the races a fee of one-tenth the
amount of the purse must be paid.
Now. take the case Of farmers, for meritori-
Gus varieties of apples. The premium is-say
81, aud a producer desires to enter 90 varieties
of apples. Applying the same rule of entrance
fee, he would be called upon to pay 81 for the
privilege of competing for 81. If farmers were
compelled to pay for entrance of articles one
tenth the amount of the prize to be obtained,
agricultural fairs would soon be thing of the
past, because there would DO no exhibitors.
But with the hOrsemen the rule becomes i'm
perative, aud il is frequently the case that with
purses aggregating 81 900, the actual cost to the
society is not more than 800 or 500. And,
however much the attempt may be made to
disguise the fact there is no question but that
| the extra attendance drawn to see the horse
trotting very much more than pays the entire
bill. We have seen team after team, carriages
with ladies and gentlemen, drive upon the
grounds to witness trotting, not leaving their
carriages for any other attraction. We say
again that the question is not wholly one
sided.-GermdntOrn Telegraph.
PROFITS OF THE FARM
Most farmers have to do the best they can,
not as they would wish. And whether they
| get their rightful share Of the farm profits do
ponds not only upon their ability to work and
I plan, but also upon their ability to market
what they have osell, as we'll as upon the
carefulness of the wife also. For instance, the
farmer may be very careful about feeding his
cows, keeping them clean, etc, but unless the
housewife supplements his close attention with
| the same care OF tho milk, cream and dairy
| utensils, his extra work amounts TO but little.
We have now in cur minds eye a farmer who
| receives five cents above the market price for
his butter, from the fact that his customers
found that the quality was the Same through
| out the year. and as good as any TO be found in
market. Now this extra FIVE cents is all profit,
and he is entitled TO it. Nor Is that all the
profit, for when once q customer Is obtained 10 Ia
usually for a whole season, aud a market thus
opened for other produce. In this way much
time is saved in marketing and middlemen
entirely dispensed with. 1t brings him in the
cash and thus enables him to buy where he can
get the most for his money, which is another
profit he reaps. This is not fancy farming,
but legitimate business, and free from all CON-
generally buy produce in a lump and sell good
and bad together at pretty much the same
price, without allowing anything for quality.
So il is always best for a farmer to establish a
reputation for selling good article in order to
get his full share Of the profit on anything he
has TO sell. Another thing: farmer, in order
10 make ready sale of any kind Of produce di-
rect TO the consumer, should establish a repu-
tation for honest dealing; /. e., never represent
an article 10 be little better than it really is
for confidence once lost Is never regained. In
this way, aud in none other, will farmer be
able TO realize his full share Of the profit on
anything he has TO sell. He should look well
after the little things and keep mp with the
times; study the markets and learn how &c
buy and sell to the best advantage; what Il
raise and how best aud cheapest to raise It. and
thus enable himself the better TO get his full
share OF the profits of his farm.-Baitimore Ssn
DAIRY cows FOR CHEESE
We have frequently stated farmers should
select their COWS with view TO their require
ments. If butter is 10 be made the quantity
and richness Of the cream should be considered
but If cheese is TO DO made the power Of thu
milk in that direction is 10 be considered. Ii
the case Of butter production from different
breeds Of cows there is much variation, and 81
too In the making Of cheese. We particu
larly impressed with a churning made by i. ID
Curtis, in the Mirror and Farmer, In which III
tabulates the cheese making power of different
breeds, as follows, in which is given the mum
Der Of pounds Of milk required TO make
pound Of cheese:
Ia Holland, Fresan breed II 2
In Russia, Ayrshire l4
In Ireland breed not Ill
In Norway, probably u II
In America, native many.-.......- 9s
This goes 10 show that there is quite differ
ence in the value Of cows milk for the sam,
purpose A milk may be rich in butter fat, In
which case the COW should be kept with tha
production in view. Again, the milk Of an ami
NAL may be poor in butter fat, rich in casein,
and sufficiently fat to make a rich cheese. Il
appears from the table above that much les
milk is required to produce O pound of chess
from the native American cow than from any
of the different breeds named.-E1ehan9e
NOTES.
1t Is not always remembered that the no,
eats grass aud reliskes hay.
Twenty -four per cent. of the entire arei
of Norway is covered by forests.
The rain has sadly damaged Spanish raj
sins. The loss to the crop is estimated a
10000 tons. g.
A shepherd dog must be trained to care fo
the sheep. If properly trained he will be
valuable protector.
Prepare young trees for the Winter
storms by supporting them by stakes, afte
Il =. Al